Combined push broom and dust cloth



F. s. CHRISTIAN COMBINED PUSH BROOM AND DUST CLOTH Filed Sept. 26, 1961 lfillaii:

United States Patent 3,034,165 COMBINED PUSH BROOM AND DUST (TH Frank S. Christian, 729 E. Collins, Grange, Calif. Filed Sept. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 143,271 7 Claims. (Cl. -247) This invention has to do with an attachment that is to be applied to cleaning equipmen tand more particularly a push broom.

Persons who use push brooms very often wish to sweep, dust and polish the floors and woodwork at the same time. It is quite obvious that the result just defined can not be accomplished with the broom alone. More equipment in the form of an attachment must be available. Another condition that is created when sweeping with a broom alone is that the corners are hard to clean, if not impossible. In other words, the very characteristics of the broom itself prevents the cleaning of corners.

It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a push broom that will provide structure that will enable the user to clean and polish the floors while sweeping and at the same time the baseboards and the like may be dusted.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a push broom and the like that will provide for cleaning the hard to reach corners.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a push broom and the like that has, when properly used, two sweeping edges or areas.

A furth r object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a push broom and the like that is economical to manufacture, is readily applied to a'conventional push broom, and may be fabricated using mass production techniques.

Briefly, the invention comprises an attachment that may be applied to a push broom to hold a cloth firmly in place. Structure is also provided to enable the dust cloth to be changed quickly for another. The result of these conditions and provisions is that a dust cloth is held firmly in place at all times; more sweeping area, using a cloth, is provided; both sides of a cloth may be soiled before a change is required; no time is lost in rearranging the cloth to provide adequate sweeping conditions; two sweeping edges are provided to pick up and push the dust and litter ahead; and square corners are provided for cleaning around legs of furniture and corners.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective, exploded view illustrating and having embodied therein the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the invention in the assembled position and fastened or locked in place.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, 10' designates a fiat body into which the bristles 12 of the push broom are embedded. A handle 14 is attached to the body by U-shaped members 16 and 18. Attention is directed to the fact that the handle may pivot about pins 26 and 22 that extend through each of the U-shaped members 16 and Located on each side of the handle and formed in the body 19 is an elongated opening 24. Also located on the body 16, adjacent the handle, are a pair of projections or pins 26. Each pin has adjacent its free end an opening 28.

A panel 30, similar to the body in peripheral configuration, has an opening 32 centrally located therein through which extends the handle 14. On the normally underside or bottom of the panel are elongated projections 34 that are received in the elongated openings 24. The

3,034,165 Patented May 15, 1962 "ice panel 30 also has spaced apart openings 36 therein that receive the pins or projections 26 when the invention is in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 3.

' Between the panel Bill and the body 10 is a dust cloth 3% that is substantially larger than the combination of the body and bristles 16* and 12. The reason for the size of the dust cloth is that it may be folded under the bristles on all sides thereof when sweeping. The dust cloth, like the panel 3%), has an opening 39 centrally located therein through which the handle 14 extends.

The panel 3i? also has a bracket 40 fastened thereto that is in opposed relation to the pins 26.

A U-shaped fastener 42 with an upturned handle end 54 extends and slides through the bracket in the manner illustrated and the free end of the legs 46 are received in the openings 28 in pins 26.

The operation and assembly of the invention is as follows: The dust cloth 33 is slid over the handle 14 and laid on the body lil in the manner illustrated in the three figures. The panel 30 is slid over the handle and laid on top of the dustcloth with the projections or bosses 34 in allignment with the openings 24. With projections 34 properly aligned, the openings 36 are also aligned and the pins 2e may extend therethrough. When the panel 30 is properly located on the body 10, the fastener or lock 42 may be applied as illustrated in FIGURE 3. In the condition described, the dust cloth is firmly and squarely held and is prevented from rotation or slipping from a desired position. With the dust. cloth properly held in place, thefree edges may be folded under the bristles 12 of the broom to dust and polish the floors or just one free edge may be folded under. For instance, when the broom is being pushed before the user, the back edge, or that edge of the dust cloth nearest the user may be folded under. In this condition, there are two sweeping edges for collecting the dirt, the one edge not folded under and the edge that is.

Additionally, it may be necessary to sweep in corners and about. the legs of furniture, but by virtue of the location it is difiicult to reach. Because the dust cloth is being firmly held in place, the corners of the dust cloth can be whipped to wrap around the legs. resulting in throwing the litter out in a more convenient area to sweep. The same would be true with regard to sweeping in corners.

Further, if all the edges or sides of the dust cloth were folded about the bristles and body 12 and It) respectively, the broom could be used to clean, polish and dust the baseboard of a wall. Another feature to consider when the dust cloth is in the last mentioned condition is that it may also be used, in combination with the broom, as a mop. In other words, the broom and an untreated dust cloth could be immersed in water. The bristles of the broom would retain a certain amount of water and in this manner, the dust cloth, now a mop, could be kept wet long enough to perform a definite task.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises a preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a fiat body that supports floor engaging bristles; said body having a pair of spaced, elongated openings therein; an articulated handle on said body; means having an opening therein for sliding over the handle of the broom;

a 'ilo'o'r engaging dust cloth, havingan opening therein for sliding overthe handle, between said means and the body; elements on said means that register With and are received in the openings in the body; a pair of projections, each'having an opening'thcrethrough, on said body that extend'through openings in said means; a lock structure on said means that is received in the openings in said projections to rele'asably retain said means on said body and clamp the dust cloth in place.

2. A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a fiat'body that supports fioorengaging bristles; said 7 body having a pair ot spaced; elongated openings there-' i in; an articulated handle on said body; means having an opening therein for sliding over the'handle of the broom;

, a floor'engaging dust cloth havingan opening therein for sliding over the handle between said means and the body;

elements on said means that register with and are received in the openings in the body; a pair of projections,

cloth having an opening therein for sliding over the handle between said means. and the body; elements on said means that register with and are received in the openings in the body; a-pair of projections each having an opening therethrough, on said body that extend through openings in'said means; a lock structure on said means that is'received in the openings in said projections to releasably retain said meanson said body and clamp the dust cloth in place; said structure being a slidable 'U- shaped fastener.

4i A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a flat body that supports floor engaging bristles; said body having elongated openings therein; an articulated handle on said body;a fiatpanel having an opening therein for sliding over the handle of the broom; afloor engaging dust cloth having an opening therein for sliding over the handle between said panel and body; elements on said panel that register with and are received in the openings intheb'ody; a pair of projections, each having 7 an opening therethrough, on body that extend through "openings in said'paneh-a lock structure on said panel 7 that is-received in the openings in said projections to releasably retain said panel 'on said body and clamp the dust cloth in place.

5. A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a flat body that supports floor engaging bristles; said body having a pair of spaced elongated openings therein; an articulated handle on said body; a fiat panel having an opening therein for sliding over the handle of the broom; a floor engaging dust cloth having an opening therein for sliding over the handle between said panel and body; elements on saidp'anel that register with and are received in the openings in the body; a pair of projections, eachhaving an opening therethrough, on said body that extend through openings in said panel; a lock structure on said panel that is receivedin the openings in said projections to releasably retain said panel on said body and clamp the dust cloth in place; said structure being a slida'ole U-shaped fastener.

6. A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a.

fiat body that supports floor engaging bristles; said body having a pair of spaced elongated openings therein; an

articulated handle on said body; a flat panel having an opening therein for sliding over the handle of the broom; a iloor engaging dust cloth having an opening therein for sli ing over the handle between said panel and body;

. projections on said panel that register with and are received in the openings in the body; a pair of projections, each having an opening therethrough, on said body that extends through openings in said panel; a lock structure on said panel that is received in the openings in said projections on said body to releasably retain said panel on said body and clamp the dust cloth in place.

7. A combined push broom and dust cloth comprising a flat body that supports floors engaging bristles; said body having a pair of spaced elongated openings therein; an articulated handle on said body; a flat panel having an opening therein for sliding over the handle of the broom; a floor engaging dust cloth having an opening therein for sliding over the handle between said panel and body; projections on said panel that register with and are received in the openings in the body; a pair of projections, each having an opening therethrough, on said body that extend through openings in said panel; a lock structure on said panel that is received in the openings in said projections on said body to releasably retain said panel on said body and clamp the dust cloth in place; said structure being a slidable-U-shaped fastener.

References Cited in the' file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,886 Plon Aug. 23, 1938 2,875,460 Legge Mar. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,068 Switzerland July 

